Tag: early learning

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Planning Creative Art Activities for Multi-age Groups

Child's hands painting a ball of paper

Many child care providers work with mixed-age groups that include children of many different ages. Planning your child care curriculum to include creative art activities that are appropriate (and safe) for infants through school-agers can be challenging. Here are some tips for child care providers to choose creative art activities for multi-age groups.

  • Choose materials that appeal to different ages. Activities such as painting, drawing, and working with play dough are art activities that children of all ages can enjoy.
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Helping Young Children Learn to Write

Girl writing

Children’s writing actually starts with their earliest scribbles. By giving infants and toddlers chances to draw with crayons, child care providers are encouraging them to practice the skills that they will need for later writing. With time and practice, children gradually learn to control the scribbles to make lines, circles and eventually some simple letters. These letters are often upside down or backwards, which is normal for young children. After a while, preschoolers may start to put these letters together …

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Creative Art Activities for Children with Special Needs

Child's hand playing with play dough

Child care providers often have children with special needs included in their programs. Art activities can be a valuable learning experience for many children with special needs, but the art activities given in a child care setting may need to be modified or adapted so that all children may participate in them.

Child care providers should also be aware that they may need to guide children with special needs when helping them with their art activities. Here are some ideas …

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Choosing Books for Young Children in Child Care

Dr. Seuss books

Child care providers can introduce young children to the world of reading by choosing books that match their age, development, and interests. A child’s book is something special—a world of ideas and fun. Child care providers can help children learn to love the world of reading by introducing books that capture their interest. To be most effective, books need to be appropriate to the age and developmental level of the children in the group, and appropriate to the interests of …

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Art Is a Valuable Learning Experience for Young Children in Child Care

Watercolor paint set

Art activities might appear to be “just messy,” but creating art is a valuable part of a child care curriculum. Art opens up new worlds for children and gives them a variety of important experiences. Crayons, markers, paint, clay and many other art materials are the tools that can help children:

  • build strength in the arms, hands and fingers
  • practice hand and finger control, which helps improve writing skills
  • practice coordination of the hands and eyes
  • explore textures, colors and
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